Ali Shahbazi

Ali Shahbazi was a Major General of Iran who served as the commander-in-chief of the Iranian Army from 1988 to 2000, preceding Mohammad Salimi.

Biography
Ali Shahbazi joined the Iranian Army in 1960, and on 7 May 1988 he was given the title of commander-in-chief by President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, making him the first person to hold that post. This followed his command as a colonel of the Tawakalna ala Allah Operations of April-July 1988, which ended in a decisive Iraqi victory over Iran. In May 2000 he resigned from his post and Mohammad Salimi replaced him, while he became the chief military advisor for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.